Israeli military officials confirmed Friday that they eliminated Abed Harb, the leader of Hezbollah’s engineering operations, during a military strike in Lebanon.
Israeli forces stated that Harb supervised the engineering division and participated in operations directed against Israel Defense Forces personnel deployed in southern Lebanon.
Military officials explained that Harb led the engineering division responsible for creating and positioning explosive devices designed to injure Israeli soldiers operating in southern Lebanon.
Israeli forces also disclosed that their air force targeted a rocket launcher that Hezbollah had used to attack troops in southern Lebanon. Military officials released video documentation of the mission and confirmed the attack took place during nighttime hours.
These military actions followed a Thursday meeting of Israel’s security cabinet to review a framework developed during diplomatic discussions between Israel and Lebanon in Washington. The proposed agreement would create security areas in Lebanon free of Hezbollah presence and mandate the organization’s retreat from regions south of the Litani River.
Cabinet members did not proceed with a vote on the framework following its rejection by Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem.
Meeting attendees reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed ministers the framework would not advance for approval without Hezbollah’s formal acceptance.
Netanyahu stated, according to meeting participants: “At the moment there is no agreement. Hezbollah opposes it, and therefore I am not bringing it for a decision. If it agrees, I will bring it for your approval.”
Earlier Thursday, Qassem criticized both the framework and the diplomatic process that created it.
Qassem declared: “The result of the direct, humiliating and disgraceful negotiations is rejected by broad parts of the Lebanese people.”
During the cabinet session, ministers received notification of the death of Capt. Eitan Shmuel Lamberg, an Armored Corps officer killed in southern Lebanon.
According to Ynet, news of Lamberg’s death increased resistance among certain ministers to the ceasefire framework being considered.
The session ended without any vote, as Israeli military actions in Lebanon persisted.
